FireStick 4K - Buffering / Lagging issue with 4K content (and 1080p content too)

[ross87 12]

I'm having the same issue with a Fire TV Cube. It's worked fine for years, then all of a sudden a couple of days ago issues started. I can watch one episode fine, but then it will go to the next episode in a series will either start freezing/lagging or the audio will go out of sync. 

Router is roughly 8ft from the Fire TV Cube. No changes to my server or Fire TV Cube.

Did you find a solution to your issue?

[Luke 42077]

@ross87

 

Hi there, let's look at an example. Please attach the information requested in how to report a media playback issue. Thanks!

 

[ross87 12]

Thanks for the response.

I'll have to download the log when I go on my laptop later today, as the anonymised logs won't download via the app on my phone and just open in a Chrome window. Every time I try and copy/paste the log to a text file, the text file apps just crash, no matter which one I use. 

 

[ross87 12]

@Luke

Server log attached from last night. 

Blacklist S01E08 played ok, but the issue appeared when playing Blacklist S0109.

I've watched these episodes before so know it's not the files. It's happened on other shows etc that I have watched before but over the past few days the issues have developed. I have to restart the Fire TV cube and start the show again for it to be in sync.

 

embyserver-63886746641.txt

[ross87 12]

@LukeI was wondering if you'd had chance to look at this yet? Had to stop watching an episode of Brooklyn 99 last night, as the audio was ahead of the video. Skipped a few episodes and it happened on them all. 

Edited June 30, 2025 by ross87

[ross87 12]

Bump

[ross87 12]

@Luke@ebr

I've found this issue can very temporarily be fixed by clearing the app cache, however the audio slowly goes out of sync with the video.

This is using the app version available from the Amazon app store.

[ebr 16169]

7 hours ago, ross87 said:

This is using the app version available from the Amazon app store.

There are two.  Exactly which version are you using?

[ross87 12]

13 minutes ago, ebr said:

There are two.  Exactly which version are you using?

Thanks for the response - it's 2.1.26a.

[ross87 12]

@ebrI've just tried 3.4.74 from the Amazon store and it started off in sync and like 2.1.26a, it's gradually gone out of sync.

[Luke 42077]

Hi, we’ll take a look at it. Thanks.

[ross87 12]

19 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi, we’ll take a look at it. Thanks.

Thanks

[ross87 12]

@Luke @ebr

 

I've attached another log that may be of help. 

- Cleared the cache.

- Watched Criminal Minds S18E09 - no issues.

- Watched the last 18 minutes of The Blacklist S01E12 - no issues. 

- Started watching The Blacklist S01E13 - stuttering started within seconds and then it would lose audio sync and then freeze. This is now using 3.4.74

embyserver.txt

Edited July 3, 2025 by ross87

[Luke 42077]

OK we're looking into it. Thanks.

[ross87 12]

On 7/12/2025 at 3:45 AM, Luke said:

OK we're looking into it. Thanks.

Brilliant, thank you. I've stopped using the Fire TV versions for now and moved to using the Emby app on my TV for now, as that doesn't display any of the issues. 

[ross87 12]

 

@Luke@ebr

Is there any progress with this? Using the app on Google TV worked for a day before video started getting choppy. This is with both variations of the app.

[Luke 42077]

Hi, we are looking into it. Thanks.

[ross87 12]

@Luke

 

Has the cause of this issue been identified yet or addressed in any of the betas? Just wanted to check as I've been unable to use Emby for some time due to it. 

 

I saw some mentions of Plex suffering the same issues and it was suspected to be related to a bad exoplayer update, however apparently it's been fixed. 

Edited August 23, 2025 by ross87

[Luke 42077]

Hi, not yet. We are looking at it. Thanks.

Quote

it was suspected to be related to a bad exoplayer update

They just had a new major release recently, so once it's been through a couple maintenance updates we'll look at integrating it. It's possible that it will help with this.

[ross87 12]

5 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi, not yet. We are looking at it. Thanks.

They just had a new major release recently, so once it's been through a couple maintenance updates we'll look at integrating it. It's possible that it will help with this.

Thanks for the response @Luke

 

As a workaround on my Android TV, I've tried using VLC player as an external player, however every time I press play on the Emby for Android TV app, I get "the item didnt appear to play as long as its duration". If I use the generic Emby android app, it prompts me to select VLC player but then does play and just stays on the episode page. Is there a specific setting I need to change, other than use external player? 

[Luke 42077]

On 8/24/2025 at 8:03 AM, ross87 said:

Thanks for the response @Luke

 

it prompts me to select VLC player but then does play and just stays on the episode page.

 

Hi there, let's look at an example. Please attach the information requested in how to report a media playback issue. Thanks!